Details: Thinkfun's
Shell Game is for children ages 8 and up to adults. Single player game of swapping the shells to solve memory puzzles. 60 challenges from beginner to expert level. Shell game includes: 6 sea shells, 6 hermit crabs, 3 ocean stones, 60 spiral bound challenges, instructions and solution manual. "Thinkfun is the world's leader in addictively fun games that stretch and sharpen your mind. From lighting up young minds to creating fun for the whole family, Thinkfun's innovative games and mobile apps make you think while they make you smile." 4 Step setup/ play process: set up Hermit Crabs and Ocean stones in the Start position, cover the crabs with a shell, swap the Shells following the arrows from position to position trying to get to the End position without looking.
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My Review: I think originally I as Mommy was more excited about this memory game than my children were. Growing up, my family had a lot of time to play games together, so we played tons of board and card games. Memory was one of those popular games with my family. We did all kinds of memory games: cards, math, sequences, Simone Says, etc. Now that I'm grown, married and have children of my own, I'm also getting involved with my kids and playing board games, card games, active games, thinking games, silly games, educational games etc. I love Thinkfun games in general. I have been able to have a good selection of games from them, and have enjoyed every game. This Shell Game is a new fun unique twist on memory. My 7 year old loves the magic "cup and pom pom ball" trick, so I thought of him when getting this game. Let me tell you, he loves this game even more. Its the perfect game for a single player who loves thinking, solving problems, finding solutions to puzzles, and loves to test their memory. I'm very impressed! The levels from Beginner, intermediate, advanced to expert really are excellently thought out, and really help boost your memory, and thinking skills. I've played some and really do have to focus in order to "win". This will be a fun game for when my youngest gets old enough to play it. I am going to recommend this game, I see it as a great time filler for teachers, home school moms who home school multiple children. One negative is that this game isn't fun once all the levels have been won. In one day my 7 year old completed all Beginner levels. Once he's won all 60 levels he won't want to play again, but I'll be able to pass this onto my younger child.
Pros: my son loves this game, I love this game, I love Thinkfun products, fun, educational, well thought out
Cons: not a long lasting game
My Rating: Thumbs Up and Down
Details: Thinkfun's Brain Fitness games: Chocolate Fix is a sudoku-style logic game. With 80 challenges, single player game, 4 progressive levels of play, cross train your brain. Comes with: 1 challenge booklet and play instructions, 1 solution booklet, 9 hard plastic chocolate pieces, 1 chocolate tray. ThinkFun brain fitness games help keep your mind young and sharp, strengthens memory, sharpens focus, speeds up thinking, and reduces stress. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, Chocolate Fix is an addictively fun way to test out your logical deduction skills. Buy online from amazon. 
My Review: I love brain teaser games, and games that help tune in your brain, thinking skills, and deductive skills. So when I saw this game I just had to try it out. When I got it, I wasn't really sure what I was getting because I've never played sudoku. But guess what I found out, you don't need to know how sudoku works in order to play this game. Just read the instructions, which are easy to read and understand, and then start exercising your brain. The night I got this in the mail I played the first 10 challenges in the beginner's level within half an hour. It was fun, challenging, and I felt relaxed afterwards. I love the cute little pieces of chocolate you get to play with, and amazingly I don't actually crave chocolate when playing, but its always fun to have some on hand just in case. This game is for kids age 8+ up to adults. As an elementary teacher, I can see this being very productive to keep on my desk, or in the drawer so it doesn't disturb my students, so I can play one challenge here and there during the day to keep my mind focused. I can also see my 7 almost 8 year old wanting to play this when I take it home. 
